The Silver Fern

Well, just to fuck life up when things seemed to be getting on track after the recent episode:

Boxing Day 2023 I woke up with a bit of vision loss in my left eye. Hospital is always fun that time of year (not) and after spending most of the next day there and running all sorts of tests, they decided to pump me with steroids and sent me off to see a Neuro-Opthamologist.

The diagnosis was optic neuritis. But they wanted to know what was causing it.

And today - after over a year of mostly waiting between tests - the same specialist reckons the diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis.

Now for another MRI to see if it has advanced, so we can look at treatment options from there.

Given the extended and repeated kicks in the balls our family has received over the past 8 years, I fully expect to win the lottery any minute now.

On the plus side, the doc said it was caught very early and treatments were becoming more and more effective. We're a long way from people being wheelchair-bound by the time they're 50 (I'm turning 49 in June).

He's talking 10-20 years before any impacts to lifestyle at the moment, but needs the next round of tests before being sure.

I've got 5 caps to get for the rugby club to get above two other blokes (absolute peanuts) who don't deserve to be there TBH, and then refereeing. A trip to Europe and other shit once my daughter finishes school this year.

Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'

For the record: I'm supporting you guys.

just threw up in my mouth a little

Wow. Just when you thought everyone had the complacency knocked out of them, Ireland Schmidt the bed.

I understand those wanting to defend S Barrett. He's been good this year and mostly shelved the brain farts.

But that dive into the ruck - which was already decided mind you, and on which he would have zero effect - with a leading shoulder was the pinnacle of fucking idiocy

@Frank said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Schmidt is on to "Hometown."

Ireland are usually the most disciplined team on the pitch but they came out on the wrong end of a 9-6 penalty count, with Schmidt hinting at some frustrations at referee Angus Gardner – who the Ireland head coach had curiously decided to criticise as recently as Thursday.

“We’ll go back and have a look at it,” said Schmidt. “I certainly understand the frustrations of some of the players and in discussing things with them based on what I saw on the monitor, it’s not too dissimilar from the last time we had this referee.

Murray Kinsella  /  Sep 28, 2019

Another dismal day for Ireland at the World Cup as Schmidt's side crumble

The Ireland head coach was most frustrated by his side’s inability to push on from a 12-3 lead.

"Our brand of cynical bullshit finally got called on us. It happened with this referee last time but we were too stupid/arrogant/complacent to understand and rectify this either in our preparation, or during the game"

@chimoaus said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

@NTA As a neutral are we overreacting or were we really that shit?

I can't speak for all of you as a collective but some of you may be egging it a bit too much in terms of this game being a disaster beyond all disasters. The fact is, this has happened before (RWC2019 SF) and will happen again.

EDIT: I mean in terms of this being rugby. You have to accept losses. Just makes it hard for you bastards you only lose occasionally.

Argentina won the way you always beat the All Blacks: minimise your errors, make your tackles, and don't take any shit at set piece.

I've said it a few times the last month, but I think as fans you guys occasionally get carried away with the freakish skills some of your guys possess, and think that is the difference i.e. that they're just better as a group than everyone. Really, its just that the fifteen individuals you put on the park at one time (fourteen is S Barrett is playing ;)) are probably better players than the other blokes, but what is that saying about Champion Team versus Champion Individuals? Doesn't always work.

@mariner4life - in the same period - has pointed out a few times that when under the pump, the ABs haven't really looked that special. Nothing more than good even in Sydney - it was either dinky kicks breaking things open for you + counterattack (26-0 at halftime), or getting whacked (first part of the second half).

I count one set piece try in the period - and that was a 5 metre scrum where our flanker didn't get off in time at ANZ, leaving the wing stranded.

That has been the AB game plan since Henry / McCaw left: defend, counterattack, and (occasionally) pull off your skills and fitness, complemented occasionally by the odd piece of streaky bullshit. And I'm not saying those skills and fitness aren't great, because the winning record over the last decade speaks for itself.

BUT these skills and fitness aren't really built around any structure besides "You're the Fucking All Blacks, go out and win".

Looking at the last few weeks, maybe the depth isn't as good as everyone thinks. I'll talk about the tight five, because that's my jam.

Big concern for the Wallabies was second row in particular, but we generally stood up physically with Philip, LSL, and even Simmons. On the flipside, guys like Tuipolotou have not shown up with consistency. Whitelock is still a stalwart but looked a helluva lot better with BBBR (as would any of us!)

Your props are fine around the park but getting a bit of a lesson at scrum time, as a collective - that also comes back to your second row being a little frail. The combination there is important, and what stands out is you're not learning on the run. A couple of times the Wallabies put the ABs under pressure and you didn't adjust.

Must say that Coles is a fuckwit who throws his toys when he's not allowed to just swan around on the wing while everyone else does the hard yards (like Codie Taylor).

The backs are going through the motions, and look it isn't park footy and you can't always have a highly structured plan, but "play what's in front of you" has dangers of its own, especially when half the backline changes in the space of 2 weeks from A to B and back again.

Maybe making 9+ changes two weeks in a row wasn't the right decision. Maybe the selections and combinations are just wrong.

Regardless, you haven't really moved the needle in close to a decade, tactically speaking. It makes the ABs an easy target for coaches to plan for: front up physically, don't miss your tackles, and don't give away cheap ball. Of course, that relies on players executing and the Wallabies continue to be plagued by inconsistency.

Contrast Brisbane and Wellington versus ANZ and Auckland from a Wallabies point of view. Chalk and cheese in terms of execution.

The most burning example of this was Caleb Clarke: breaks 8 tackles on his way to setting up a try in Auckland, but was well looked after tonight. Simple game, really.

I've played suburban rugby in Sydney.

Every fucking Kiwi I played with or against was an All Blacks trialist.

Just ask them.

When you fall off a balcony, you generally only go in One Direction....

@geebee said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:

@NTA nah its true,and remind me where you are from and why you are here please?

Australian. Long time contributor here, and I've had my share of disagreements with these kiwi bastards but I'm not about to spout fuckwit statements like "not world champs to me".

Wind your neck in, you've got school tomorrow

Watched the game this afternoon.

First point to get out of the way: the bitching and fucking moaning from everyone. Pearce has the patience of a saint. I'd have been carding people left, right, and centre for some of that shit. Sexton was the worst (and yes Dane, he is a mouthy fluffybunny, you mouthy fluffybunny) but several on both sides weren't far behind.

The Ref: I saw a few things that went against the ABs early I thought were a bit rough but they didn't make a difference to the result IMHO; none of them were unrecoverable.

The game: Ireland won through intensity, accuracy, and cohesion. A lot of these guys have spent a lot of time together, and it shows.

The All Blacks' constant rotation shows in the lack of connection between a lot of players. Losing Beaugan early was a bit of a blow but all he'd done to that point was kick badly. Mo'unga continued the trend.

That was the story of the AB possession stats: kicking what little ball they had without purpose. The worst part was they'd do that around halfway, but inside their 22 they're taking dumb shit taps. Looked panicked and rudderless.

Some genuine stupidity in hitting Sexton late a couple of times, and TBH Blackadder was lucky not to escape harsher sanction; the ref was well within his right to explain to Whitelock that it was a clear professional foul and it had to stop, therefore yellow card was the lesson. There was a later one from Lomax on an Irish reserve which was just petty and stupid. Again: ref would have been well within his rights to go harder on that given repeat offences.

Foster must have a fucking airtight keg of powder in a secret volcano lair, that he's keeping dry for RWC2023, because the same basic, through-the-hands attack line happens again and again and again. No subtlety. No work off the ball. It is great when it is Aussie falling off tackles, making Akira Ioane look like a superstar, but looks utterly amateur when it is someone who doesn't miss very much.

The AB defence is built off waiting for a turnover (big de ja vu moment here as I type this), but they got fuck all in that department and so the rest of the plan - just score more points when the other side fuck up - fell to shit.

AB defence was outstanding in terms of tackle percentage BUT it was all down the wrong end. And add in that Ireland pick and choose their moment to go into contact that stands out, using their hands to create yards post-breakdown. The ruck is accurate and quick. The backline has bodies in motion, all players across the squad, with hands dropping the ball short and/or in behind to sweeping backline moves with varying depth, pace, and angle. Beautiful to watch, and similar to Scotland.

This isn't just the Wales-under-Gatland 2 dummy runners with a ball out the back that won a couple of 6N because NH sides didn't do back play back then. It is ambition and shows the work and planning to get that execution right when they're in their green zone - centre field - with what looks like no set ruck count like some over-engineered plans.

The Kiwi imports helped turn the screws. Lowe was great. The halfback was awesome. It shows the depth NZ is gifting to the world, but these guys played far better than their opposites.

Ringrose was the best on ground for me - always threatened, always hard to put away. Made the right decisions, stretched the defence.

But fucking hell their forwards put in some work. Utterly bitched the AB pack who looked like they'd just met in the carpark, and forgot to tell their backrow they were required for 80 minutes besides.

I'm not saying Whitelock and Retallick are a spent force, but you look at their effect on a game and think their best years are behind them besides pushing at scrum. Laulala is so hit and miss. Taylor is the guy you want to grind out the first 60 and then bring Coles on to be a niggly fluffybunny for 20. Moody needs to improve.

To me it was a great game to watch, and the right team won by at least the correct margin.

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

"So, a tough learning curve for this group at the moment.''

• Ian Foster since 2019.

Foster's learning curve:

@mariner4life said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:

The TMO can get entirely fucked taking that maul try off

It's always funny when you see the next maul - nowhere near the try line - allowed to continue in exactly the same manner.

And not "ha-ha" funny

Optic neuritis - inflammation of the optic nerve. Explains the vision issue in the left eye. Everything else structural inside the orb itself is fine.

Three days of IV steroids with first dose administered in ED. Should sort it out.

Bigger issue: it's most commonly associated with MS. So here's hoping, based on the sudden onset, it isn't that.

@duluth said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:

Anyone picking the Aussies?

I'd like to go to the game, but I'll probably be on the couch, recovering after too many minutes at hooker for both grades on Saturday.

Hopefully survive the 2nd Grade match in order to run on for First Grade in what would be my 100th game at the club.

Only taken 15 years...

@Bovidae said in Wallabies vs Lions III:

It will be interesting to see the outcome of Sheehan's citing review. History tells us that the rules are different for the Irish.

6 week sentence.

Discount for record - 2 weeks.

Discount for doing an AR course - 2 weeks.

Discount for being a jolly good chap - 2 weeks.

Discount for being Irish - 2 weeks.

Result: lynagh banned for 2 weeks for daring to headbutt Sheehan's shoulder

My boss at work is a leaguie, and his comment was "If you send a guy off for an attempted intercept, your game is fucked"

Favourite moment: went camping in the Blue Mountains with my daughter, then 15. After the sun set, we chilled out on a canvas tarp looking up at the stars and taking about life, the universe, and everything. I am repeatedly amazed at her emotional maturity.

Best purchase:
got my old car a new stereo? A couple of camping bits and pieces. Not much to mention really.

Best media:
I'll say dead heat between Oppenheimer and The Barbie Movie

Looking forward to:
A new car in 2024, and an EV at that.

Angus Gardner presenting Nic White with a ref shirt. Lol.